Silhouette Mum

Today I have two cards to share with you ...

I had a mishap with the first one so I had to improvise and trim the paper smaller than what I wanted.

I was inspired by Stephanie Parkes' blended inks cards (click here to see one of Stephanie's beautiful cards!).  Since I don't know how to do the blended inks, I decided to sponge the background area instead ... everything went really well - I was happy with the colors and how everything looked ... until the very end when I noticed a brown smudge on my white background :(  Thankfully it was near the bottom so I cut it off and mounted the main image onto a brown background.  But I really wanted it to be a totally white background, so I'll have to try again.

Both cards for today are made with only SU! products.

"Silhouette Mum"

Stamps:  Kind & Caring Thoughts, Short & Sweet (SU!)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  post-it notes for masking, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponges, adhesives

* * * * *

Using Whisper White cardstock, I masked off the area for the main image with post-it notes.  I randomly sponged Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze (in a circular motion) over the blocked area.  I went back and added more ink using more pressure to blend the inks together.  I removed the masks and then masked off the area for the sentiment and repeated the steps above for sponging.

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the mum and sentiment and stamped both in Early Espresso ink.

I mounted the main panel on a card base of Early Espresso.

____________________ 

The second card for today used some of the same color inks for the sponged background and main image.  This is the sketch challenge this week from SCS (SC349) - I'm having fun with this layout!

 "Butterflies & Daisies"

Stamps:  Upsy-Daisy (SU!)

Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight DP (SU!)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; Stampin' Write markers:  Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 5/8" Old Olive satin ribbon, Sizzix Embosslits "Beautiful Wings", sticky strips, adhesives and glue dots

* * * * *

Using Whisper White cardstock, I randomly sponged the background paper with Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive inks.  I went over the cardstock several times, adding layers of color in order for them to blend well.  I adhered the sponged background cardstock onto a card base of Old Olive.

For the main image, using Whisper White cardstock, I inked my Upsy-Daisy stamp with Stampin' Write markers: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive and stamped the image twice before re-inking (once in the foreground, once in the background - this is called "second generation" stamping).  I inked the stamp again and repeated the above, stamping twice before re-inking a third time to add one last stamping.

I mounted the main panel on a thin frame of Old Olive cardstock.  I added a knot to the satin ribbon and adhered it to the main panel with the knot off to one side.  I mounted the main image onto the background paper, popping up with dimensionals to add depth.

I used my Big Shot and the Embosslits "Beautiful Wings" to cut out butterflies from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Daffodil Delight DP.  I place a rolled glue dot in the center of both of the Pumpkin Pie butterflies and added the smaller Daffodil Delight butterfly on top.  I adhered both butterflies to the main panel with glue dots.

Day at the Beach

Yesterday I picked up four Stampdenous stamps that I ordered through Country Lane Crafts in Cloverdale.  They took a while to get them in because of a computer glitch with the distributor, but I wasn't in a hurry so it didn't really matter.  If you are in the Lower Mainland and haven't been to Country Lane yet, it's worth a trip!!  They have a huge selection of scrapbooking and card making supplies, their prices are excellent and the staff is really friendly!

So last night I had to make a card with my new stamps --- notice "had to" - it's not like someone was holding a gun to my head!! :)  Anyways, these stamps are awesome.  I had a lot of fun coloring this beach scene.  I rarely put sentiments on my cards, but two of the stamps I bought were sentiments that are specific to the other stamps I bought ... they just go together.  Hope you like.

"Day at the Beach"

Stamps:  Umbrella Beach, Feel Sand

Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Sahara Sand; Stampin' Write markers:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand

Accessories & Tools:  Cuttlebug "Tiny Bubbles" embossing folder, Big Shot, sponges, white gel pen, post-it notes for masking, sticky strips, adhesives and dimensionals

* * * * *

I ran a large piece of Tempting Turquoise through the Big Shot with the Tiny Bubbles embossing folder.  I cut it to size (always cut the paper to size AFTER embossing as the added texture from the embossing will change the original size of your cardstock!).  I lightly sponged Tempting Turquoise ink over the embossing to highlight it.  I attached the embossed background to the Whisper White card base and set aside.

I inked the stamp using Stampin' Write markers - Old Olive for the palm fronds, Early Espresso for everything else.  I stamped onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I masked off the outline of the image and sponged Bashful Blue and Tempting Turquoise for the sky.  I removed the masks and used the Stampin' Write markers to color in the rest of the image (adding Always Artichoke to the palm fronds to give them interest).  I used the white gel pen to add ripples in the water.

I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and then sponged Tempting Turquoise ink at the top and Sahara Sand ink at the bottom.

I framed both the main image and sentiment with Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up both the main image and sentiment with dimensionals.

Lilies and Leaves

Today is the Sketch Challenge (SC349) from SCS.  I love this one!!  I can see myself using this layout over and over again ... so much fun!  I don't know about you, but when I make a card, lots of times I end up with an embellishment or background paper that's just not quite right for the card I'm making at the time.  There's nothing wrong with it, maybe it's just the wrong shade of color or not the right size ... so I have a large Ziploc box that I shove these things into with the intention of using them on another card.  Well, I rarely go back to the box and pick out things to use.  I just seem to keep adding to it and now, it's full.  So I challenged myself to use SOMETHING from that box.  Back in April, I made a Stargazer Lily card.  Usually when I'm embossing images, I make a couple of extra ones.  Sometimes things can go wrong and you need an extra image and I don't want to have to drag out my embossing powders, heat tool and then have to clean up afterwards again  - so it's really a case of laziness :)  When I made the card in April, I made two extra lily images and I used them for the card today - perfect!  The card below is made with all SU! products.   Hope you like.

"Lilies and Leaves"

Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Precious Butterflies (SU!)

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Whisper White (SU!)

Ink:  Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, VersaMark; Stampin' Write marker: Rose Red (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, Sizzix "Little Leaves" die-cut, Sizzix "Square Lattice" embossing folder, Big Shot, sticky strips, adhesives and dimensionals

* * * * *

The lilies where made as follows:  on Whisper White cardstock, I stamped two lilies with VersaMark ink and embossed in white.  I colored in the stem and stamens with a Rose Red Stampin' Write marker .  I sponged the lilies with Pretty in Pink ink and then using a small eye make-up sponge, added Rose Red ink to the centers of each petal.  I used the Rose Red Stampin' Write marker (thick end) to add dots to each petal.  I then cut the flowers out and set aside.

For the background:  on Whisper White cardstock, I randomly sponged Certainly Celery, Old Olive and a little Always Artichoke ink.  I went over the piece again with Certainly Celery to blend the inks.  I cut off a 7/8" x 4 7/8" strip to be used for the sentiment which was stamped in Always Artichoke ink.  I ran a scrap piece of cardstock through my Big Shot with the Sizzix Little Leaves die-cut.  I used this as a stencil and sponged it several times on the background paper

.

I ran a large piece of Whisper White cardstock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder and then cut to size.

I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up the lilies with dimensionals to add depth.

Watercoloured Fall Tree

Today started out badly ... my son Evan called to say he was in a car accident on his way to work ... not far from our house.  Thankfully he was fine but I felt so bad for him - it's an awful way to start the day!  Luckily, hubby has no plans to use his truck in the next couple of weeks, so Evan can use it while he works on repairing his vehicle.

Tuesday is the day I make dinner for Evan and Nikki and tonight's menu is: Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips with Guacamole and Apple Tart for dessert.  I managed to get the dessert and roasted vegetables done this morning before it got hot ... that way the house will be cooler around dinner time because I only have to heat up the Panini grill - no stove tonight!! :)

I wanted to find time to participate in today's color challenge from SCS (CC339) - Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Cajun Craze.  I LOVE this color combination!   I watercolored a fall tree using the watercolor spritz technique.  Hope you like.

"Fall Tree"

Stamps:  Tree (Rubber-Art Stamps)

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Autumn Traditions DP, watercolor paper (SU!)

Ink:  So Saffron, Always Artichoke; Stampin' Write markers:  Cajun Craze, Soft Suede (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Aqua Painter, sponge, mini mister, adhesives & dimensionals

* * * * *

I sponged So Saffron lightly over the watercolor paper.  I used an Aqua Painter to add water and create a "wash".  I let the paper dry thoroughly

.

I inked the stamp with Soft Suede and Cajun Craze Stampin' Write markers.  I used the mini mister, filled with water, to spritz the stamp three or four times.  I immediately stamped onto the watercolor paper. 

I lightly sponged Always Artichoke along the bottom of the tree to create a "hill".  I used the Aqua Painter to add lots of water.  I let the image dry thoroughly.

I mounted all the pieces shown in the picture above, popping up the main image with dimensionals to add depth.